888 Holdings plc
14 September 2006

888 Holdings Public Limited Company

('888' or the 'Company')


Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2006





888, one of the world's most popular online gaming entertainment companies,
announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2006.


Financial Highlights


Profit before tax* up 88% to $48.0m (H1 2005: $25.6m)
Net Gaming Revenues ('NGR') up 32% to $163.5m (H1 2005: $123.7m)
Profit before tax* margin up to 29% (H1 2005: 21%)
Operating expenses % of NGR down to 25.6% (H1 2005: 28.0%)
Cost per acquisition** of US$165 (H1 2005: US$200)
Net cash generated from operating activities up 109% to $56.1m (H1 2005:
$26.8m)
Basic EPS* up 89% to 13.8c (H1 2005: 7.3c)
Interim dividend of 4.5c per share
Special dividend of 4.0c per share


* 2006 - excluding share benefit charges


** Excluding customers recruited on a revenue share basis.


Operational Highlights


Geographical expansion outside US - 48% of NGR from non-US territories
and 67% of new real money sign ups from non-US territories


Rapid growth in NGR in the UK up 61% and Continental Europe up 16%


Increased yields per member from Casino and Poker divisions


Continued technological innovation


Continued investment in the 888 brand through sports sponsorships
including two new football sponsorships with Sevilla FC and Toulouse FC in
addition to the World Snooker Championship and a third year with
Middlesbrough FC


Commenting, John Anderson, CEO of 888 said:


'These are excellent results and represent a record performance of profitable
growth. We have delivered on all our flotation goals.


Trading during the first 10 weeks of Q3 is in line with management expectations
and we are on track to achieve a satisfactory outcome for the full year.

As of 31 December 2006, I shall step down as CEO and take the role of
non-executive Director. The current COO, Gigi Levy will succeed me as CEO.
Gigi is an excellent, experienced individual who is more than capable of taking
on this challenge.

I am proud to have led 888, since 2000, through its formative years into the
success it is today. Over the past six years, 888 has been a pioneer in the
online gaming industry.'



An audio replay of the presentation to analysts will be available from the
investor relations section of 888's website (
http://www.888holdingsplc.com

Blow?
Please elaborate.

Sorry I meant the charts are indicating the sp are likely shoot up very shortly. Do you think the same?

I think that it is bad news for 888 that Ladbrokes are preparing to strip out the assets of 888, leaving the shell of the company to take the brunt of any ongoing U.S. legal action.
Also, if I am right in reading the chart, the sp is nowhere near breaking through the 200 DMA which for me is the crucial line. I know cynic often looks at the 25 & 50 DMA but for sustained upward movement the 200 DMA is the one to watch.
I know the sp has moved up recently & that's good news for all of us still holding, but to be honest, I am not confident that it will continue.

Fair enough Harrycat but note, I think this company has not really been dependant on US like PRTY SBT so I dont think there any US legals stuff are hanging around. Have you seen the recent trading statement last week, it was pretty good I thought. Even if Ladbroke doesn't decide to go for 888, I think the sp has more or less bottomed out now. DYOR

I agree that 888 is a well run company & it is good to see that it is making money.
I almost wish that Ladbrokes wouldn't take it over as I think that 888 would manage to survive & grow under the current management, but if Ladbrokes don't do the deed then there are others still lurking in the background (PRTY etc). They were talking about a valuation for takeover of 130-140p per share, so we may hopefully see the sp increase up to that level.

"LONDON (AFX) - Ladbrokes's 470 mln stg takeover of online gaming firm 888.com has run into trouble, prompting much of the gambling industry to write the deal off, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
The newspaper said, citing several sources close to the deal, that the spectre of US litigation over 888.com's previous trading in the US remains a sticking point that is insurmountable."

And subsequently the sp is up 10%+.
It would seem the market also prefers that the deal does not go ahead.

results out any day my moneys' on them being good

cannot understand why the delay though...

Looking at the charts it appears the resistance is on 200MA at 130.09, if it breaches this tomorrow, it will be looking good, the sky the limit. Last time it above this was when the sp was 200p back in July 2006

OK when's the results due chaps?

Hi stockbunny,

888 Holdings Public Limited Company ('888')

Notification of Preliminary Results

888 Holdings Plc, one of the world's most popular online gaming companies, will
be announcing its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2006 on
Monday 30 April 2007. A presentation for analysts will be held at 09:30 at No 1
Cornhill, London, EC3V 3ND

Cheers me-dear! :>)

Greeting all holders

Were any of you panicked into selling this morning?

I don't hold any ............. but am tempted by the expectation of decent results and Ladbrokes saga out of the way.

What is your take in the charts, for this one?

All views welcome

Cheers
Amar

For those of you who don't get Shares Mag:
Numis believe that 888's finals & trading update will be upbeat & should be enough to send them upwards.
Numis currently has a target price of 148p but says it is likely to increase this to 177p depending on the results.

when will these results be out?

Monday

Thankyou very much Neil. Good luck all.

Greetings all.

Bought in today ................. purely looking for a positive result on Monday.

Some chunky trades at around close of play.

More thoughts welcome.

Have a nice weekend
Amar

888 traffic statistics are far higher than any other gaming site by far...decided to buy on this factor

News 30th April 2007
"Online gaming firm 888 Holdings reported record 2006 earnings despite losing its US operations.

The US, had accounted for 55% of the business, before being ruled illegal from the start of the fourth quarter.

Pretax profit before share benefit charges and reorganisation costs rose by 34% to $90.5m from $67.4m the previous year.

That was substantially ahead of market forecasts which ranged between $58.3m-$76.4m.

The pretax profit margin was increased to 31%, from 25% in 2005.

Net gaming revenues grew by 7% to $289.9m, against $271m the year before. That included a 28% rise in net gaming revenues from continuing operations to $157m from $123m the previous year.

In the first quarter of the current year, net gaming revenues have growth by 16% from the fourth quarter of 2006, driven by the rollout of new products such as localised Video Slots, Blackjack in Poker and Crazy Blackjack.

'Given this start to 2007, the release of new products, our Bingo acquisition and our clear business strategy, we are confident of delivering future growth in 2007,' said CEO, Gigi Levy.


888 is recommending a final dividend of 8.88 cents per share 'given the strong financial performance'. "

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - "888 Holdings PLC has followed the lead of rival PartyGaming PLC by initiating 'preliminary discussions' with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

888 said it started the talks following uncertainty over the likelihood of action by US law enforcement agencies regarding activity in the U.S. prior to the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act on Oct 13 last year.

The online gaming firm stopped customers in the US from playing or making deposits on any of its real money sites after the UIGEA was introduced.

888 said it is too early to assess the possible outcome of the discussions but added a further announcement will be made 'if and when appropriate'.

The UIGEA effectively banned online gambling in the US where 888 had derived over half its revenues.

Yesterday, PartyGaming which, like 888, is advised by the law firm Freshfields, issued a similar announcement confirming it had initiated talks with the same Attorney's Office and responded voluntarily to a request for information.

James Hollins, an analyst at broker Daniel Stewart, believes this is 'the most sensible route for operators that used to offer their services into the US, essentially working with the authorities to hopefully draw a line under any potential ongoing litigation'.

Numis analyst Richard Carter also believes the talks are a positive development for the industry.

'Although it is too early to assess the outcome of these discussions, our intelligence tells us that there now appears a willingness on behalf of the US Attorney's Office to settle and draw a line under the uncertainty caused by recent DoJ actions,' he said.

Carter identified 888 as his 'key pick' in the sector given its 'strong pipeline of new game and product development, improving trading momentum and ability to expand acquisitively given the group's cash balances'.

Numis has a 'buy' recommendation and 172 pence price target on the stock."